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Does Oprah Have Sleep Apnea?

Oprah’s recent revelation in her magazine that she’s back above the 200 pound threshold made a lot of headlines recently. She was quoted as saying that rather than falling off the wagon, the wagon fell on her. Oprah attributes her weight problem to an ongoing thyroid condition. An excellent detailed description of her thyroid condition can be found on Mary Shomon’s site. 

Ninety percent of women with obstructive sleep apnea in this country are undiagnosed. Instead, they are treated for the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, such as weight gain, depression, hypothyroidism, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity—many women are susceptible to sleep-breathing problems, especially if you’re peri or post-menopausal.

Here are the tell-tale signs that Oprah may be suffering from untreated sleep apnea, including:

     • yo-yo-like weight fluctuations

     • her highly publicized diets and weight loss programs

     • her well-known thyroid hormone imbalance

     • an admitted food addict and cravings for junk food   

     • her feelings of depression and anxiety  

     • her chronic fatigue

I can prove that Oprah has sleep apnea—all she has to do is to undergo a formal sleep study.